Antichrist And World Governance
3.1. The Charismatic Office
3.2. The Charismatic Economy
And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads, that no man might buy or sell, but he that has the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. He that has understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.
John : 19 The Christian And Assurance
1 John teaches that there will be those who fall away from the faith and abandon orthodoxy. Such people are those who have made empty professions of faith and who never possessed true and saving faith. Those born of the Lord by the Holy Spirit will by grace persevere .
1 John 2:19 applies to all who deny the faith in the local church. It is the departure of the false teachers, though, that prompts Johns writing of this particular verse. The false teachers were those many antichrists that will come .
While we await the day of the final Antichrist, we have lesser antichrists who will come beforehand and who are here now. Those antichrists are liars, and those who possess eternal life are those who are to recognize when and where the spirit of the antichrist occurs. 1 John 2:22 teaches Christians that the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a liar and an antichrist.
In view here, in this denial of the faith once and for all delivered to the saints is not only a denial of Jesus the Messiah but of the Incarnation. The Incarnation is critical to biblical orthodoxy and an important way Christians can be assured of salvation .
The false teachers John is countering accepted the view of Cerinthus who called Jesus the Christ but denied the apostolic definition of the title. Instead of seeing the Christ as the eternal Son of God who became Incarnate, followers of Cerinthus were convinced Jesus was a mere man, His entire life only possessing the spirit of Christ.
Appeal To Our Highest Aspirations
The Bible doesnt give us any information about what the antichrist will look like physically, but it does tell us what his actions will look like, because we know the kinds of things Jesus said and did. And so its safe to say that the antichrist will speak beautiful and soothing words. He no doubt will speak of love, peace, justice, and universal brotherhood, because thats what people expect. Indeed, it will be this appeal to our highest ideals and aspirations that will make his lies so irresistible.
Lucifers original desire, which led to his fall from heaven, was to become like the Most High , to be like God Himself. And he used that same temptation with Eve. He told her that when she ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, her eyes would be opened, and she would be like God . Being like God sounds like a really good thing. The great deceiver often cloaks his temptations in apparent goodness.
We see this demonstrated in the 2003 film Luther, in which an idealistic young man named Aleander comes to Rome. In the Vatican, a cardinal asks him, What do you want most?
Aleander replies, To serve God with all my heart. The cardinal warns him, Then that is how you will be tempted.
As the film progresses, we see how Aleanders desire to serve God leads him to urge treachery, kidnapping, and murder. Thats how the devil works: he offers us the best to get us to do the worst.
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The Antichrist Will Display Seemingly Miraculous Signs And Wonders
2 Thessalonians 2:912 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Answers To Questions About The Antichrist
Who is the Antichrist? How will we recognize him? The Bible is clear that one man, the Antichrist, will rise up to unite the world under one government during the Tribulation. This global dictator will pose as an angel of light, just like his father the devil, but will later act out of his true, evil nature.
Here are six answers to questions about this future sign of the Apocalypse:
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Who Is This Woman
Throughout the New Testament, the term “woman” is used as a symbol for a church. For instance, the Apostle Paul writes the Church of God at Corinth: “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” . Clearly, the true church is here described as “betrothed” to Jesus Christin the position of an engaged woman to her fiancé who is Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 5:2324, Paul writes: “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Again, the analogy clearly identifies the true Church as being in the position of a womana wife who is submissive to her husband, Christ. And in Revelation 12:15, we read the inspired account of the “woman”this time ancient Israel, the “church in the wilderness” being used by God to bring forth the Messiah: “a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.”
Verse 5 picks up the story about “the woman”now the true New Testament Churchfleeing into the wilderness to “a place prepared by God.” The following verses make it even more evident that this “woman” is, in fact, the true Church of God that is protected by God Himself from the wrath of Satan.
Satan Wants You To Miss The Mark
One of the Greek words for “sin” in the New Testament literally means “to miss the mark.” So Satan is content to let you “believe in” God and Christ as long as he can still control you, make you “miss the mark.” His goal is to keep you out of the coming Kingdom of God, which will replace him and his demonsby blinding you to what is really happening! God inspired the Apostle James to write: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believeand tremble!” .
Then James explains how the true Christian must not merely believe in God, but must surrender to God’s will and do what He says . James writes: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” .
“Justified by works?” Yesalong with faith! Read verse 24 for yourself. It should be very clear that true Christianity involves more than just accepting, in faith, Christ’s deathwhich is a free gift from Godas full payment for our sins. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice, we must also make a literal “covenant with our Creator” to quit sinning in the futureto truly surrender to let Christ live His obedient life in us through the Holy Spirit! For, God’s inspired Word tells us: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” . So we must repent ofsin, repent of breaking God’s spiritual Law, the Ten Commandments. This involves a life of humble obediencethe “works” of keeping God’s laws and commandments.
How so?
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Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter
In The Church of Jesus Christ, the “Antichrist” is anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel or plan of salvation and that openly or secretly is set up in opposition to Christ. The great antichrist is Lucifer, but he has many assistants both as spirit beings and as mortals.”Latter-day Saints use the New Testament scriptures, 1 John 2:18, 22 1 John 4:36 2 John 1:7 and the Book of Mormon, Jacob 7:123, Alma 1:216, Alma 30:660, in their exegesis or interpretation of the Antichrist.
What Does The Bible Teach About The Antichrist
The book of Revelation is an enigma to most people. Many have heard about the antichrist. Who is the antichrist? Does the Bible describe the antichrist? Does the Bible tell us who the antichrist is? Does the Bible teach where the antichrist will come from? How can we know who the antichrist is when they come? What will the antichrist be like so we can realize who it is?
Two Types of Antichrists
Anti means opposed to or someone who is against whatever the prefix is attached. Anti can also mean in place of as we will find in the book of Revelation. Thus, to be antichrist means to be opposed to Christ or to place oneself in His place. The Bible actually describes two different antichrists. In fact, antichrists are here today. We dont have to look toward the future for the arrival of the antichrist because there are in the world today. But the antichrist is not the same as the antichrist.
The apostle John talks about the antichrist but he differentiates the difference between the two antichrists that exist. One is the antichrist with the small a. Then, there is the Antichrist. That is the one that is capitalized. One is a proper noun meaning it is a specific person. The non-capitalized antichrist speaks of several who are antichrists.
A Definition of an Antichrist
The Antichrist
Safely Delivered From the Antichrist
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Identifying The Antichrist: Some Characteristics To Look For
The identity of the Antichrist will not be a mystery at the midpoint of the tribulation. The Antichrist will reveal his true identity when he sits in the temple of God and claims that he is God:
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Although the Antichrist will reveal his identity in the future, there are many people who would like to monitor his activities beforehand.
Some of you reading this article may wonder if theres anyone today who will serve as the Antichrist in the future. I imagine that many of you look for certain qualities when you try to identify him.
I will share with you some of the qualities I look for when attempting to identify the Antichrist in this article.
Summary Of The Old Testament
The Old Testament strangely introduces the Antichrist. Its hard to be convinced of Antichrists coming from the Old Testament. We should honestly state that any confidence in the theme of Antichrist in the Old Testament comes from the New. Be careful not to be too dogmatic on what are some very cryptic verses.
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The Separation Of God And Mankind
Sin is the cause of separation between God and mankind. When sin is put off, we are unified with God. The spirit of Antichrist allows the sins that separate us from God to live by covering them with tolerance, “love”, and freedom. Gods word clearly states what is right and wrong, what is sinful and what is pure. But when enough people live in sin, for instance adultery, it is no longer considered sin. Gods laws are rejected, and the laws of society, and eventually even the laws of the nations, change to accommodate this adjusted view of what is right and wrong.
So impurity and sin are allowed to live, and mankind grows farther and farther away from God which is exactly Satans intention. The majority of the world has given over to this spirit, because it allows them to live comfortably, without a guilty conscience. This has been done under the covering of religion, and forgiveness of sin without ceasing from sin, in the past. However, in the times we live in now, humanism is more and more taking over the role that religion used to play. Mankind is more and more reliant on itself and being governed by itself, rather than being led by any higher power.
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How Millions Have Been Deceived
This mass deception is so widespread and so believable because many of its tenets “look good” on the surface. Most of its practitioners will say that we must believe in Christ. They will say that Christians should exhibit love, kindness, mercy and patience, and that Christians should “do good” to their fellow mangive to the poor and support hospitals, charities and homes for unwed mothers. They will say that Christians should respond to Jesus’ “law of love.”
All of this sounds biblical. It sounds very good!
But these practitioners do not tell you which of the laws of God are to be keptand exactly how God’s laws are to be obeyed. These people will talk sentimentally about Christ being the “Lord” of our lives. But they will inevitably fail to explain that if Jesus is “Lord,” we must obey Him! They will never tell you that Jesus directly and consistently taught obedience to all of the Ten Commandments!
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How Will He Unite The Nations
The prophet Daniel describes the Antichrist in these terms: “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast And there were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High” .
As Daniel says, the coming world leader will be renowned for this kind of eloquence, which will capture the attention and administration of the world.
Daniel goes on to tell us that not only will this goldentongued orator speak in highblown terms, but he will also speak arrogantly against God. The apostle John describes him similarly in the book of Revelation: “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” .
Daniel continues his description of the Antichrist by telling us he is a man “whose appearance was greater than his fellows” . In terms of his outward appearance, this man will be strikingly attractive. The combination of his magnetic personality, speaking ability, and extreme good looks will make him virtually irresistible to the masses. The apostle John expands on Daniels description of the Antichrists blasphemous acts by telling us that every living person will be required to worship this man. “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as man as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” .
Where Is Antichrist Now
We will not know where Antichrist is until he bursts on the scene.
But based on studies of the despots listed above, we know that Satan has been preparing potential Antichrists for generations.
Satan must always have a candidate Antichrist ready to go because he doesnt know the Fathers timing.
And we ourselves do not know the day or the hour. But because of the faithfulness of the Bible we do know the season.
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A Doctrine Of Disobedience
The true saints of God are being prepared by Him to replace Satan and his demons in ruling over this earth. For Satan is now the “god of this age” . He is now the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” .
Yet the Apostle Paul tells us: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” .
Why have you not heard a lot more about this awesomepurpose of the true Christian to exercise rulership in the future? Because Satan wants to block this knowledge from reaching human beings so they will be unable to replace him and his demons in ruling this earth. Therefore he, the “father” of lies , has the vast majority of all humanityincluding two billion professing Christiansregarding God’s purpose for man and the way to fulfill that purpose!
Notice that this false religious system is called “the mystery of lawlessness.” Shortly before Christ’s return, it will be headed by a figure called the “man of sin” or the “lawless one.” This man, who will perform “lying wonders” can be found elsewhere in Scripture as the great, miracle-working “false prophet” .
Pray tell, who claims the authority to “do away” with this clear teaching of Jesus Christ? Does your minister, your church?
Again, why?
The Antichrist Will Appear To Resurrect
Revelation 13:34 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
Daniel 8:25 Through his cunningHe shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule And he shall exalt himself in his heart.He shall destroy many in their prosperity.He shall even rise against the Prince of princes But he shall be broken without human means.
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